title: Epidemiology of complex regional pain syndrome: a retrospective chart review of 150 Korean patients.
abstract: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronically painful and disabling disorder. However, no data are available even on the epidemiology of CRPS in Korea. This study was undertaken to retrospectively assess the epidemiologic characteristics of CRPS in 150 consecutive patients at a tertiary chronic pain center from March 2002 to February 2006. Information was obtained regarding patients' demographics, nature of injury, and treatment modalities. Seventy-one percent of patients had CRPS type I. The mean 11-point verbal numerical rating scale score at initial examinations and at the time of study were 8.0 and 5.7, respectively. Thirty-two percent of patients showed no change or increase in pain intensity during follow-up at our pain center. The mean duration of CRPS symptoms prior to our pain center evaluation and prior to the time of study were 27 months and 50 months, respectively. These patients had seen on average 5 different physicians before being referred to our center. This study shows that the majority of CRPS patients were referred to our center after more than 2 yr of symptoms. The clinical implication of such delayed transfer and strategies to avoid this problem are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Mi Geum
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyo Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chul Joong
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Sang Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D018710:Pain Clinics; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications